The African Wildcat is sandy brown to yellow grey in
colour, with black stripes on the tail. The fur is shorter than that of the European
subspecies. It is also considerably smaller, being only slightly larger than a domestic
cat.
Today's domestic cats are generally believed to be descendants of the African Wildcat,
which were tamed by the Egyptians over 4000 years ago to control rats and mice raiding
their granaries. Apart from the obvious difference in their ear coloration and the longer
legs, the African Wildcat is easily mistaken for a domestic cat. Interbreeding is possible
as they are so closely related to domestic cats. Pure genetic African Wildcat are quite
rare and only found in remote areas as elsewhere interbreeding with domestic cats has
taken place.
Pure genetic stock of the African Wildcat is today only found in the remote savannahs and
bushland of Africa (and the Middle East). Elsewhere interbreeding with domestic cats has
taken place.
The African Wildcat is generally solitary except when mating, or when the female is
raising kittens. Both males and females establish territories which they mark and defend.
African Wildcat are nocturnal in the warm weather and diurnal during very cold weather.
Wild cats are preyed upon as young cats by larger predators, such as foxes, wolves, other
cats, and large birds of prey, such as owls, eagles and hawks. African Wildcat are fierce
when threatened and can protect themselves from animals larger than themselves. |
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